From the Nominator

At San José  State University, we reimagined the traditional 24-hour giving day as 1,857 Minutes of Giving—tied to our founding year of 1857. This shift moved us from a high-pressure sprint to a narrative-driven model to address donor fatigue and time-zone friction for our global alumni. We retained core giving-day elements, such as time-bound challenges, real-time progress tracking, designation-based crowdfunding, and concentrated outreach. Our four-person team managed a "follow the sun" communication cycle to maintain constant global engagement. By providing custom toolkits, we transformed 116 campus projects across departments into autonomous fundraising hubs. To sustain this energy, we launched 23 challenge gifts as "pace-setters," effectively bridging overnight gaps and ensuring participation never stalled. The results were transformative. Surpassing our $1 million goal, we grew from $1.8 million in 2024 to a record-breaking $3.7 million. SJSU became the first California State University campus to surpass $1 million on a flash or giving day campaign. SJSU’s giving day evolution is replicable for any institution.

From the Judges

This campaign achieved an exceptional $3.7 million result through a strategically executed "follow the sun" approach that engaged the global community across multiple time zones. By transforming 116 campus projects and leveraging a "1,857 minutes of giving" hook tied to the university's founding year, the small team fostered an energetic and highly coordinated atmosphere. While the "founding minutes" concept is a recognized industry tactic, the global synchronization and the securing of 23 pre-planned challenge gifts demonstrated sophisticated planning. Ultimately, this effort serves as a comprehensive blueprint for institutions looking to differentiate their giving days through a globally focused marketing strategy.